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  Method and apparatus for steam dealkylation in a plant for the catalytic reforming of hydrocarbonsUSPTO Application #: 20080045761Title: Method and apparatus for steam dealkylation in a plant for the catalytic reforming of hydrocarbons Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating a fraction consisting predominantly of hydrocarbons having at least seven carbon atoms (C7+ fraction) as produced in a plant for catalytic reforming of hydrocarbon-containing feedstock, is disclosed. Following hydration, the C7+ fraction is taken to steam dealkylation where the useable products benzene and hydrogen are produced. (end of abstract) Agent: Crowell & Moring LLP Intellectual Property Group - Washington, DC, US Inventors: Helmut Fritz, Volker Goeke USPTO Applicaton #: 20080045761 - Class: 585015000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Chemistry Of Hydrocarbon Compounds, Hydrate Or Production Thereof The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080045761. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application claims the priority of German Patent Documents No. 10 2006 038 889.5, filed Aug. 18, 2006, and No. 10 2006 058 532.1, filed Dec. 12, 2006, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein. BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates to a method for treating a fraction consisting predominantly of hydrocarbons having at least seven carbon atoms (C.sub.7+ fraction) as produced in a plant for the catalytic reforming of hydrocarbon-containing feedstock, and also an apparatus for carrying out the method. [0003] Heavy naphtha is produced primarily in a plant for the catalytic reforming of hydrocarbon-containing feedstock, such as is produced, for example, in crude oil distillation. [0004] The heavier naphtha, such as is produced in crude oil distillation, contains primarily iso- and n-paraffins, napthenes and aromatics containing primarily six to twelve carbon atoms, where the percentage of aromatics may be very small and is dependent on the feedstock. In accordance with the prior art, the heavier naphtha first undergoes desulfurization involving the consumption of hydrogen and the creation of hydrogen sulfide and then conducted to catalytic reformation as feedstock. In catalytic reformation, the existing paraffins and napthenes are converted into aromatics in the presence of a catalyst, where hydrogen and light hydrocarbons are produced as by-products. These by-products are separated from the reaction products from the catalytic reformation, so that a fraction consisting predominantly of hydrogen and hydrocarbons having up to five carbon atoms and a fraction consisting predominantly of hydrocarbons having a fraction consisting predominantly of hydrocarbons having at least six carbon atoms (C.sub.6+ fraction) is produced. This C.sub.6+ fraction contains aromatics as an economically usable product, principally benzene, which find an application as the feedstock for the synthesis of numerous plastic materials and to increase the knock resistance of gasoline. [0005] In order to acquire the economically viable products from the C.sub.6+ fraction, primarily benzene, and to maximize the yield, the following method is used in accordance with the prior art. The C.sub.6+ fraction is separated into a fraction consisting predominantly of hydrocarbons having six carbon atoms (C.sub.6+ fraction) and a fraction consisting predominantly of hydrocarbons having at least seven carbon atoms (C.sub.7+ fraction). The economically viable product benzene can be separated directly from the C.sub.6+ fraction. By means of fluid-fluid extraction, the linear hydrocarbons can be separate from the C.sub.7+ fraction and further processed as a raffinate, the raffinate can be returned to the feedstock for catalytic reforming. The C.sub.7+ fraction freed from the linear hydrocarbons now contains primarily aromatics having seven to eight carbon atoms and is separated into a fraction consisting predominantly of hydrocarbons having seven carbon atoms (primarily toluene) and into a fraction consisting predominantly of hydrocarbons having eight carbon atoms (primarily xylene). The fraction consisting predominantly of hydrocarbons having seven carbon atoms is taken as feedstock material to a method for hydro-dealkylation. [0006] A method of this type for hydro-dealkylation is described, for example, in WO2005071045. The hydrocarbons are contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst at a temperature of 400.degree. C. to 650.degree. C. and at a pressure between 20 bar and 40 bar, where the hydrogen is present at a molar excess of three to six times the hydrocarbons. Under these conditions the alkyl groups are split off from the specific alkylated aromatics (for example, toluene or xylene) so that benzene and the specific alkanes (for example, methane and ethane) form. [0007] The consumption of hydrogen in the hydro-dealkylation of the hydrocarbons has a negative economic effect on this method from the prior art for extracting benzene. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING [0008] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the principles of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS [0009] In accordance with the invention, with respect to the method, the C.sub.7+ fraction is subjected to steam dealkylation where mainly the two utilizable products benzene and hydrogen are produced along with reaction products such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. [0010] The basic idea of the invention is to carry out the dealkylation of the alkylated aromatics while generating benzene with the aid of steam dealkylation. Steam dealkylation requires only inexpensive steam as the starting material and produces the valuable by-product hydrogen in addition to the desired quality product benzene. [0011] The C.sub.7+ fraction employed in the steam dealkylation contains primarily: [0012] a) aromatic hydrocarbons having seven to ten carbon atoms, [0013] b) cyclic paraffins (cycloalkenes) having six to ten carbon atoms, [0014] c) iso- and n-paraffins having six to ten carbon atoms, [0015] d) alkenes having seven to ten carbon atoms, or any mixture of the preceding, in which the exact composition of the mixture depends on the composition of the heavier naphtha which is taken as feedstock for catalytic reforming. The method in accordance with the invention is suitable for each of the compounds of the C.sub.7+ fractions described. [0016] The hydrocarbons from the C.sub.7+ fraction react advantageously with steam in the gas phase with the introduction of heat on a solid catalyst. The gaseous C.sub.7+ fraction is dealkylated by the presence of gaseous water (steam) on a catalyst under the constant introduction of heat, whereby the desired products benzene and hydrogen are produced in addition to carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and additional by-products. [0017] Preferably the heat required for the dealkylation reaction is generated from combustion of a starting material with air. It proves to be particularly advantageous to use gaseous reaction by-products from the steam dealkylation, specifically carbon monoxide and methane as the starting material for combustion with air. A part of the gaseous reaction products from the steam dealkylation, in particular carbon monoxide and methane, is combustible and can thus serve as starting material for combustion to generate the required reaction heat. This saves heating gas and this otherwise unused part of the reaction products is employed usefully. [0018] Following compression, the gaseous reaction products are expediently separated by way of pressure swing adsorption into gaseous hydrogen and gaseous reaction by-products, specifically carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and methane. The valuable by-product hydrogen is also present in gaseous form and can be employed much more usefully than in combustion. By means of pressure swing adsorption preceded by compression, the hydrogen can easily be separated from the combustible gaseous reaction by-products which can serve as starting material in the combustion. [0019] Advantageously the flue gases generated in the combustion are cooled via a heat exchanger while heating the starting materials for the steam dealkylation. By using the heat from the flue gases to preheat the starting materials (C.sub.7+ fraction and steam) for the steam dealkylation, the necessary heat which has to be brought in to maintain the required temperatures for the dealkylation reaction is reduced. This achieves an economical use of energy resources. [0020] The C.sub.7+ fraction and the steam are advantageously taken past the solid catalyst in pipes, preferably from top to bottom, with the catalyst being located inside the pipes. Heat is expediently brought to the pipes from the outside. The heat required for the dealkylation reaction is advantageously transferred to the pipe by electromagnetic radiation, thermal radiation and/or convection. The actual dealkylation reaction takes place inside the pipes where the catalyst is located. The two components in the reaction (C.sub.7+ fraction and steam) are taken from top to bottom through the pipes filled with the catalyst. The heat required for the dealkylation reaction is generated outside the pipes and transferred to the pipes by the mechanisms named from where the heat is transferred by means of conduction and convection into the interior of the pipes where the reaction is taking place. [0021] Preferably a solid catalyst of a porous carrier material is used, in particular .gamma.-Al.sub.2O.sub.3, MgAl spinel and/or Cr.sub.2O.sub.3, and an active component on the surface of the carrier material, in particular Rh with 0.1-1.0% loading by weight and/or Pd with 0.2-2.0% loading by weight. [0022] The steam dealkylation is advantageously performed at a temperature of 400.degree. C. to 600.degree. C., preferably 450.degree. C. to 550.degree. C., particularly preferably 480.degree. C. to 520.degree. C. and at a pressure of 1 to 15 bar, preferably 1.2 to 10 bar, particularly preferably 1.5 to 8 bar. [0023] The steam dealkylation is expediently performed at a molar quotient of steam to hydrocarbons which lies in the range from 1 to 20, preferably from 2 to 15, when it enters the reactor. In another embodiment of the invention, the steam dealkylation is performed at a molar quotient of steam to hydrocarbons which lies in the range from 3 to 12, preferably from 5 to 10 when it enters the reactor. Generally the steam dealkylation is performed with a molar excess of water, where the exact ratio in the different embodiments of the invention depends on the precise composition of the C.sub.7+ fraction. [0024] It proves advantageous to subject the C.sub.7+ fraction before steam dealkylation to a process to convert dienes and styrenes, where specifically hydrating methods consuming hydrogen are employed. In another embodiment of the invention, the C.sub.7+ fraction is separated before steam dealkylation from a fraction of hydrocarbons having at least six carbon atoms where the fraction of hydrocarbons having at least six carbon atoms is subjected to a process to convert dienes and styrenes, specifically a hydrating process which consumes hydrogen. By employing the hydrating methods, any diolefins present in the C.sub.7+ fraction are converted into their corresponding olefins, just as components containing sulfur, nitrogen and oxygen can be converted and removed. Deactivation of the catalyst is reduced and the life of the catalyst is clearly increased. [0025] The reaction products from the steam dealkylation are preferably cooled and separated in a 3-phase separation into gaseous reaction products, hydrocarbons and water. The reaction products coming from the steam dealkylation contain not only the desired quality products benzene and hydrogen but also reaction products such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide and reaction by-products. To obtain the desired quality products, the reaction products must be separated. This is done by way of a 3-phase separation of the cooled reaction products into the gaseous reaction products, in particular hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and methane, into hydrocarbons, in particular benzene, and into water. Continue reading... Full patent description for Method and apparatus for steam dealkylation in a plant for the catalytic reforming of hydrocarbons Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method and apparatus for steam dealkylation in a plant for the catalytic reforming of hydrocarbons patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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